New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-16
The Country Drug Store.


The drug clerk is alone. His
employer has gone to the city to
buy stock. There has not been a GUS
TONER in the store for more than an
hour. The drug clerk feels lonesome.
He gazes pensively out at the deserted
village street, and muses. upon the
vanity Of all things here below. An
open book lies upon the counter be-
fore him. It is "Daniel Deronda."
SOMEBODY has advised the drug clerk
to read it, and he has been trying to
do so. But he don't like it. He is
disappointed, for he began thunder the
impression that it was a detective
story. It makes him sleepy.
The drug clerk is a thing OF beauty,
and is calculated to be q JOY forever:
He wears a check suit. a blue scarf
with large pin representing a mortar
and pestle (suggestive of his devotion
to business), and a very high collar,
His natural attractions are further en-
hanced by a large amethyst ring upon
the little finger of his right hand, and
blonde bang which long and careful
training has reduced to state of
| complete subjection.
But see! the expression OF gloom up
on his face gives place to a sunny
smile. He sees a. maiden coming up
the village street, and he knows that
the chances are very large that she
will not be able to get past the door,
He pulls down his cuffs, and assumes.
what he believes to be an air of un--
studied grace. The door opens, she.
enters, and the following dialogue en-
sues:
She-All alone, Cy?
He-Why! good afternoon, Addie.,
Yes, things are rather quiet. Hain't.
seen you for an age.
She-You saw me at church last
Sunday.
He with killing glance)-Well
three days away from you seem ans
age.
She-Cy Whitaker, you're getting
worse and worse!
He-1 know I am. Guess you'll
have to undertake my cure. Hey?
Brief intermission for Cycling
See-What are you reading? DAN
lei Deronda." Do you like it?
He(guardedly)-Do you?
She-I think it's perfectly splendid.
Don't you?
He promptly Perfectly magnif-
cent! Going to the Methodist tea
party tomorrow night?
She with scorn)-Me? No, sir;
don't mix with that set.
He-Kinder severe, amt YOU, Ad-
die? Some nice folks down to the
Methodist church.
She-O, yes, Is'spose there are-the
Griswold girls, for instance. I heard
it said yesterday that the Griswolds
must be mighty unhealthy family,
Judging from the number of times q,
week those girls visit this store.
He (slightly hysterical)-He! he! he!
Now, that amuses me. Who said it?
she-1 shan't tell you.
He-Yes, do!
She-I won't. A.. ,.--.
He-Well, know who it was; it
was that Higgins girl.
She-Perhaps it was, and perhaps
it wasn't.
He (insinuatingly)-This amt the
hrst time that that girl has tried to
make trouble between you and me.
But she can't influence me. And as
for the Griswold girls, you can Judge
how much I care for them, when l tell
you that though they were around
here this morning urging me to 60 to
the tea-party, what you have said has
decided me not to attend it Assumes
an expression of tenderness.
She-I am sure it is matter of in
difference to me whether you go or not.
He ignoring the remark III think,
shall take in the concert at the Pres
byterlan Church-that is, if I can get
any one to go with me.
She (unbending slightly)-You seem.
in such demand that there ought not
to be any difficulty about that.
.He-well, I'm little particular
about my company; but if you would
accompany me
She--O, Cy! Fanny Berry will be.
here; and what would she say? She'd
be just wild!
He with dignity Miss Berry'ss
opinions are matter of perfect in
difference to me.
She-well, I'll go, Cy, and I'll wear
my plum-colored silk, and you be sure,
to call for me very early, and-O, my
goodness!
He-Why, what's the matter, Ad-
die?
sheGn great agitation)-I forgot ALI
about it! Grandma has got one of her
6ts-a dreadful one, this time-and
ma sent mo round here to get the per-
scription put up(producing bottle);
and | forgot all about it, and poor
grandma may be dead by this time.
Do hurry and get the stuff ready, Cyl
The young man prepared the pre-
scription in about thirty seconds and
hurries his visitor off, feigning grea
solicitude for the neglected invalid
And as Addie disappears round the
corner he murmurs:
"Just in time! In another minute
Susie Griswold would have been here.'
Then he wipes his brow with silk
handkerc chief and adorns his features
in one Of his fascinating smiles as he
Turns To welcome SnSin GrIswoJd